Our Story

Handbag designer Anne Scott’s source of inspiration – her French-born great-grandmother Mari Lassa, circa 1905.

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Meet Mari Lassa, the inspiration of Anne Scott’s handmade designer handbags.

My Great Grandmother Mari Lassa, is an inspiration for her strength and passion. Her life story gives me strength and fearless energy, instilling in me the importance of doing something I’m passionate about.

Born in 1884 in Les Aldudes, a small village in France’s Basque country, Mari was one of 13 children who labored in the farm fields of the Pyrenees. While working long hours in this mountainous terrain, she fell and badly injured her knee, leaving her with a bowed right leg for the rest of her life.

Seeking a better life with greater possibilities than a lifetime of farm work, Mari immigrated to the United States, settling in Los Angeles in 1903 at age 19. She worked as a domestic, then she took a job cooking on a ranch where her older brother herded sheep. Here, she met and married fellow French immigrant Jean-Marie Coudures.

I remember ‘mamen,’ as we grandchildren called her, as always working. She continued working and was dedicated and driven until she was well into her 90s. She cooked wonderful French food, and my family continues French Christmas traditions and cooking to this day.

It is my hope that my one-of-a-kind, handmade designer handbags embody the style and independent spirit of this remarkable woman, Mari Lassa.

About the Mari Lassa Collection

Each Mari Lassa handbag is truly as unique as its owner because every Hobo Bag, Shoulder Bag, Tote Bag, Satchel, Bowler and Clutch is designed and sewn by hand, one at a time in Bend, Oregon. I design with a woman’s individuality, elegance and fun-loving side in mind. Both functional and stylish, the shapes are simple and elegant, with flowing lines and leathers handpicked for their beautiful textures and colors.

Some people are surprised to learn that I have been a practicing dentist for more than a decade. But through this experience, I discovered the art of creating something with beautiful form and great function.

Like many artisans, I began Mari Lassa working in my dining room, sewing bags out of burlap, setting out to teach myself how best to create the “it” bag. The designs started out simple, but I became greatly motivated to design bags I was proud to carry myself. Dentistry taught me exceptional hand skills, enabling me to quickly move from burlap to soft, beautiful leathers.

By pouring my heart and soul into each bag, friends and strangers began to notice and appreciate the unique qualities of the bags I created for myself. Now, I’m driven by my love of this art to share these creations, so every woman can enjoy the wonderful functional ease and the classic, distressed beauty of each Mari Lassa bag. Enjoy!

— Anne Scott, designer and founder, Mari Lassa